Air cleaner



AIB CLEANER Yihadv Nov. 25, 1929 a aff l il Aio bination,

which is free from noise raient@ nog. 16, i

naar

- rammen ammi onm, or saumons,

.am camaras Application sled inventer 85, 1929.

My present invention relates to improvements lnair cleaners, and more particularly it relates to air cleaners for sup lying clean air to the carbureters of internafcomliustion cagnes. l

ne object of the invention is to providea device for eiiiciently removing all dust at all speeds ot the en `ne, since an internal com bustion engine w en operated in an automobile becomes a variable speed motor. This being so it is desirable to employ an air cleaner for suppl ing clean airto the car- -bureter, which will maintain its maximum cleaning eiciency at all speeds of the motor. T his is one of the principal objects of the device.

Another object is .to provide an eilicient air cleaner which while functioning to eiective:

ly remove all dust from the air at all speeds o the engine,` will in no way retard or interfere under any condition with the free flow of air from the atmosphere' to the carbureter. A further object is the provision of an air cleaner which requires no attention and during operation and which mailles the noise produced by the carbureter.

Other objects will appear hereinafter from the accompanying description, claims, and drawing. 4

The invention consists inthe features, comand arrangement of parts hereinafter described and particularly pointed out in the claims.

Referring to the accompanying drawing which shows oneembodment of my invention,

'Figure 1 is a longitudinal sectional elevation of my improved air cleaner disposed in horizontal position for connection to the carbureter or intake of an engine.

Figure 2 is a section on line 2-2 of Figure l. p

Figure 3 is an end view of the cleaner.

Figure 4 is an end view of the end collar ternal combustion engines,

. e ca vided witii semi n@ masas. on the eccentrically disposed outer tubular filter member, having an opening to receive a filter memberof smaller diameter which is concentric or co-axial with the outer casing.

Figure 5 is an end view of the end collar on o the innermost iilter member having an opening inwhich is to be 'removably fitted the air outlet'tube connected to the intake of the carbureter.-

In the drawing, A re resents the cylindrical outer casin of my evice which is lshown in "sit-ion wit its axis horizontal. Owing y to the location of 4the carbureter on some init is more conveny ient to use a horizontal type of air cleaner. w While the cleaner of my present invention is shown and intended to be used in a horizontal position, it will function in any position.

As shown, the tubular or cylindrical portion of the outer casing A is closed at its ends I by head or cap members a and b having annular flanges a and b encircling the tubular housing. The tubular housing portion of casing A is provided preterably at its lower side with a longitudinal opening or slot c providingle; dust laden air inlet.

or head member a is also proa concentric flange d providing a central circular opening e through the head. Mounted in the circular opening e and sere cured to the head by any suitable means is a tube or cylinder C which is adapted to be connected with the intake of the carburetor and through which the' air must pass in leaving the cleaner.

In the construction shown the tube C is fastened in place in the head a by means of a cotter pin or bolt f passing through aligned holes gin the tube C and flange d of the head in f passes through an eye h in the rod j which extends throu h the cleaner from one end to the other an is secured in the outside of the closed head b of the casing A b a nut 7c received on its threaded end Z.

The tubular cylinder C is provided preferremoved' from structcd ably at its upper side with a longitudinal opening or slot m through which air isto pass on its way to the carbureter. The cylinder Crextends to a `point sli htly spaced or the closed hea b and is preferably open at the end so that through the open end after passing t rough the narrow Vspace o between the c linder and the closed head b. tlie cylinder C is 'of uniform diameter throughout to provide for free and unobpassage of the clean air therethrough.

The tube C is co-axia1 with the casing A.

Co-axial withthe tube C is an inner tubular lter unit B which encloses it. This lter unit preferably composes a rectangular section of wire screening K covered with lter material and formed or rolled into substantially tubular shape, opposed edges'spaced apart to provide a longitudinal opening or slot R in the lter, and retained in such position by retaining cap members M and N of metal or the like placed over the ends of the tubular lter. The opposed edges of the screen covered with lter material'are preferably or clips O of metal ort as nlshing andlongitudinal stiiening or reinforcing strips as Well as means for securing the filter material to the wire screen stri s. Split spring bands P are placed within t e screen at its ends to stress it against the lter material and into engagement with the retaining caps M and N.

The lter unit B is provided at the outlet end of the casing with the retaining cap M, shown in Figure 5, having an opening to receive the tube C.

The other end of the lter B is'provided retainer cap N having an ope through which the tie rod extends. is preferably dis osed as shown with the slot at its lower siriie.

provided with beads The casing I 'lter B, and tube C are all E mutually co-axlal and the annular spaces between them are of uniform size circumferentially.

In the annular spacebetween the casing A- and lter B is'disposed another tubular filter member D the longitudinal axis of which is displaced with respect to the mutual axis of B, and C. is offset axis member D causes the. eccentric arrangement shown in Figures 1 and 2 in which the lower side of lter D is spaced upwardly away from t e lower side of the casing A and the upper side of lter D is spaced upwardly away from the upper side of lter This proto its most restricted portion at its upper side at slot n in filter D. This also provides an inner annular eccentric The hole of b but with its` e like which serves h lng material L and ormed y retaining cap members M and N of metal or the like placed over the ends of the tubular lter D. Beads or clips O are alsoprovided to cover the opposed longitudinal edges of the lter at the slot n, and springs bands P are provided, similar to the construction of inner lter B. The retaining cap member M of filter Das shown in Figure 4, is provided with an opening to receive the lter B with its cap M fitting snugly in said opening. The retaining cap member N on the opposite end of filter D is closed except for the opening through which the tie rod extends. member N of filter D of head b and the cap member N in turn engages the inner face of cap member as clearly shown in Figure 1.

he cap member M of lter D is ber M of lter B is providedl at its lower covered with filtersesl portion with a screw threaded' opening e to receive a securing screw t passing through the ea a. v

In the operation of my device, the dust laden air enters the cleaner through opening c in the outer tubular casing A to eccentric annular passage F and passes through lter D to eccentric annular passage E. Air will also pass through opening n to passage E, filterD acting as a baille.

e air in passage E will then pass through lter B to annular passage H to and through opening m. Air will also pass from passage through opening R to annular space H, filter B acting as a baille. The air in space H passes through opening m into tube C and to the carbureter. Some airmay pass into the open end of tube C through opening o.

The lter units D and B, Veach comprising the Wire net supporting a covering of ltering material, function both as filters and as a es so that there is no interference under any condition with the free flow of air from the atmosphere to the carbureter.

Casing A, lter B, and tube C are co-axial and concentric while D of tubular lter b l icient to interfere with tions, has

' axis of the circuitous paths, each pair having the same inlet and outlet, and each passage v being larger at its inlet and graduali tapering to "its smallest portion at its out et. By this construction the velocity of the air is increased as it passes from the wider portion of the passage to a narrow or restricted portion.` i

The resistance oiered to the flow of air b reason of, the tapered passages, while not su the free iow of air to the carbureter under any and all condia tendency to induce the air to pass directl through filters D and B instead of throng said continuous tapered passages and openings, the air taking the path of least resistance.

When the engine is running at high speed with the throttle wide open, the continuous tapered passageways will serve as an auxiliary passageway for the air, and the circuitous pathtraveled by the lters will effectively clean the same. The unitary construction of the parts as shown in the drawing, and the simplicity of construction provides for ready assembling of the device.

Any number of filters could be added to this cleaner without departing from my invention and carrying out theprinciple exemplified by the structure herein-shown and described as constituting one embodiment of my invention.

v l do not desire to limit the invention to the exact structure disclosed as it will be apparent that many modifications may be made therein within the'scope of the invention.

l do not desire to limit the invention to the pgrticular material of which the filters may constructed. Any kind of filtering material may be used such as felt, flannel, mineral f2 wool or any porous material including porous asbestos.

` l do not desire to limit the invention to the space between the 'inner filter and the air outlet tube being of uniform size annularly since this passagecoul'd be made tapering. This could readily' be accomplished in the embodiment shown by the interposition in said space of another eccentrcall'y disposed filter having its axis spaced from the coaxial outlet tube and filter. Having described my invention `what l claim is 1. in an air cleaner, a substantially tubular casing having an air inlet opening in its wall, an air outlet tube centrally disposed 'within and co-axial with said casing and having an opening in its wall for the passage of air, and a substantially .tubular filter un`.t disposed in the space between the casing and tube and having its axis offset with respect to the axis of the casing, said tubular filter unit having an air passage in its wall at a the air inlet in the casing,

air baied by the point removed `from ing.

2. an air cleaner, a substantially tubular casing having an air inlet opening in its wall, a substantially tubular filterunit-disposed within the casing with its axis spaced from the axis of the casing and having an air passage in its wall at a point remote from the interior of said lter unit communicating with' an air outlet in one end of the casing.

3. In an airecleaner, a substantially tubularA casing having an air inlet opening in its wall', a substantially tubular iilter unit pervlous to air disposed within the casing an havin an air passage in its wall at a point remote trom the air inlet in the casing, the interior of said filter unit communicating with an air outlet in the end of the casing. a

4.- An air cleaner according to claim 3 in which the s ace between the walls of said casing and ter unit is greater at the casing inlet opening and .less at the air passage in the wall of the filter.

5. An air cleaner according to claim 1 in which the space between the walls of said casing and filter unit is greater at the casing inlet and less than at the air passage in the filter wall and in which the space between the walls o the lilter and tube is greater at the air passage in the filter wall and lessl at the pposite side o the tube. l

' 6.' An air cleaner according to claim 3 including an air outlet tube extending through the end of the casing, said tube having an air passage in its wal the s ace between the walls of said casing and 'lter unit being greater at the casing inlet and less at the air passage in the filter wall and the s ace between the wall of the filter' and tu e reater at the air passage in space tapering between these side.

7. An air cleaner comprising a casing of substantially tubular form havin substantially tubular members including filter means, said tubular members nesting within the said casing in spaced relation, said casing having a teral inlet opening and said tubular members each having a lateral inlet opening, said lateral inlet openings being in substantial diametrical alignment and being disposed alternately and successively in the walls of said Casing and of said tubular members on their opposite sides, and an air outlet from the innermost tubular member through the end of the casing.

8. A n air cleaner according to claim 7 in which the annular spaces between said nested substantially tubular members communicate successively at the laterally opposite openings to form a continuous passage from the inlet to the outlet of the casino', one or more of said series of annular spaces eing being* k v the filter wall'v- E and less at'the opposite side of the tube, ealiiv points on either` 'i the air inlet in the casdsa . Within the casing nested the form of a slot extending longitudinally throughout the length of the. filter wall, and means for holding said filter material in such position. u

12. A filter unit foren air cleaner accordsp it spring retaining rings Within the tubuand ur of iilteringinedium.

13 An air cleaner comprising a substanl tially tubular casing having a ngitudinal air inlet slot in its tubular wall and having a closed end wall and an end wall central opening, an air outlet tube and extending said central opening,

dispoied through said tube having a lo casing.

14. An air cleaner according to claim 13 in which said filter unit comprises lter material in tube form and lter unit, said inner filter unit being co-axial with the tube and casing and having a longitudinal slot in its tubular Wall at the side lat erally opposite the slots in the eccentrically disposed filter unit and the said tube, said lilter units each comprising a sheet cleaner com- A a lateral inlet of filter maf terial in tube form and having .a closed cap member at the closed end of the casing and a cap member at the opposite end having an opening, whereby said casing lter units and tube are disposed one within another in nsting relatio 16. An air cleaner according to claim 13 in which said tube is open at both ends, its inner open end being spaced slightly from the closed end of the air cleaner to provide an auxiliary air outlet opening.

n air cleaner comprising a casing of substantially vtubular forni having a lateral inlet, means within said casing forming a p rality of annularly disposed posed l he casing, and said passages being Wider narrower at its outlet.

18. A filter unit for an air cleaner contrI prising a substantially tubular filter having at its inlet and t e length of said lilter wall for the passa of air throuvh said slot, substantially from end to end o said filter wall, said filter unit having an outlet opening in its end.

In an air cleaner, a casing havin air inlet opening and an air outlet openin and a hollow filter element pervious to air loo the casingZ the innermost ilterelement comcasing to the inlet opening of this ii ment and decreasing in size in the direction .of the 'inlet opening of one or more of CLU UQ ment to the inlet opening of the innermost element and decreasing in size in the direction of said last inlet opening.

21. In an air cleaner accordin to claim 20, a hollow member in and space from the innermost filter element, said hollow member having an air inlet opening .communicating with the interior of the innermost filter element and remote from the inlet opening of such element, said hollow member constituir inig( the air outlet of the ilter.

n testimon whereof, I aix my signature.

FREDERI K STRATTNER OREM. 

